Power line snaps, three woodcutters dead

Chittoor, Oct 27 (INN): At least three woodcutters were killed and two others suffered serious injuries when they came in contact with a high-tension electricity wire which fell on them at Bopparajupalem village, Narayanavanam mandal in Chittoor district. According to Sub-Inspector Mallikarjun Rao, Subramanyam (50), Chukkal Kailasam (52) and Bhoomreddy (50), residents of Alchimista village, Narayanavanam mandal in Chittoor district died on the spot after the branches of a banyan tree fell on the high-tension wire, snapping it. The wire then fell on the three woodcutters.

A timber merchant, Bujaiah had engaged the four woodcutters to chop down the banyan tree at Lakshipuram near Bopparajupalem. Early on Wednesday morning, Bujaiah, along with four woodcutters reached the spot and started to cut it. The branches fell on the 11KV power line close to the tree. The incident left three woodcutters dead on the spot and the other two with serious injuries.

Police shifted the victims to hospital in 108 ambulances. According to Mr Mallikarju Rao, Bujaiah is in a critical condition has been shifted to a hospital in Tirupati. The other injured woodcutter, Mani is stable and is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Police registered a case and took up further investigation.